In touch, mistake 1st, ridden 4 out, weakened next
led at the 1st and 2nd, stayed prominent, reminders 4th and 5th ridden and mistake 6th, soon weakened tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led 2nd, headed after 3rd, led again 7th, clear 3 out, hit last, pushed out
in touch, mistake 2nd, reminded after 4th, ridden 6th, went 2nd 8th weakened last
jumped right, led, headed after 1st, led again after 3rd, to 7th, pecked, rein broke 8th, soon eased, behind when pulled up before 3 out
always behind
Although Specular was far from impressive when he got off the mark over fences at Market Rasen, he makes plenty of appeal here and is preferred to the likes of Got One Too and Bearaway, who would struggle to hold a candle to the best of the selection's hurdles form. First Ballot also has plenty to prove after being pulled up in a race he was expected to win at Exeter last month and he is also given the swerve in favour of Specular today. Jonjo O'Neill did state that he would like to keep his charge on the go now that he has got back to winning ways, in an attempt to get to the bottom of why he has been so disappointing in his races since he arrived from Australia at the start of this year. Therefore, Specular is given another chance to show his worth now that he has been boosted by a clear round over fences on these shores.
